Katherine L. Costa

Kathy Costa escaped her failing body on All Saints Day and now skips among the stars, finally freed from the constraints of gravity. As a girl she danced her moonlight sonata in the living room before bed, as an adult she brought that same exuberance to everything she did.

Kathy had an indomitable spirit not easily forgotten. She was a voracious reader and a proud member of the Mary Toddies Book Club, her shelves and desk stacked high with books whose diverse topics and authors reflected the many facets of her huge personality. She was an accomplished and creative gardener, embraced new adventures, and hosted eclectic parties that brought together family and a wide range of friends; some new, many lifelong.

Kathy was a natural salesperson. She began her career at WMAY and quickly transitioned to WTAX Radio in Springfield. She then joined her father's team at Precision Products rising to National Sales Manager. After that, she held various sales positions in Springfield.

Kathy was deeply influenced by the intellectual and pioneer spirit of her maternal grandmother, Kate whose quick wit and green thumb she much admired. She will be remembered for many things, including her garden and the floral arrangements she made from it, her enormous Christmas trees, and her style of decor. But Kathy will be most remembered for her generosity, her devotion to family, and her many friends, along with her Roman Catholic faith.

Kathy was born to Rosemary (Gauer) and James Costa on August 31, 1954, in Springfield, IL. She graduated from Sacred Heart Academy and St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN.

Kathy was preceded in death by her brother, James J Costa; her brother-in-law, Douglas Garofalo, and her mother, Rosemary (Gauer) Costa.

She is survived by her father, James W. Costa; her partner, Marty O’Brien; her daughter, Angela Kelver (Bryan) Hall; her granddaughters, Chloe, Stella, and Vivian Hall; her sisters, Carol (Richard) Kolhauser, Christine Garofalo, and Sandy (Scott Marshall) Costa; and her nieces, Kimberly (Benjamin) Lakin, and Katherine Rose (Alexis DiGregorio) Thurston.

Memorial Gathering and Funeral Mass: Family will receive friends from 9:00 until 9:45 a.m. on Thursday, November 17, 2022, at Christ the King Church, 1930 Barberry Dr., Springfield, IL. A Funeral Mass will follow at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Jim Isaacson, S.J.C., celebrant.

Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Kathy's name to Doctors Without Borders, P.O. Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or the Human Rights Campaign, 1640 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036.

The family is being served by Butler Funeral Home-Springfield, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield, IL.